The Glad Game

Have you ever watched the movie Pollyanna? It is wonderful, kind of a warm fuzzy of a movie. Well, Kimmie, from Over the Moon with Joy is sponsoring a Glad Game right now. It is based on the movie because the young Pollyanna never has a bad word to say. She has suffered serious setbacks in her life but refuses to dwell on negativity.
When I taught 2nd grade there would always come a time when the arguing and complaining would begin. That's when I would show 'Pollyanna'. It always worked wonders on their attitudes.
So, this is how you play the glad game. You find something to be glad about in every situation even if it is the most minute detail. Then you focus on it instead of the "bad".
For instance: My son Blake has recently begun driving. It is not something I really have looked forward to. He doesn't get to drive everyday yet, but on the occasions when he does I am a basketcase. I think of all sorts of mishaps. However, my silver lining is that this time in our lives has boosted my prayer life greatly. I spend much of my time praying for that hedge to be around him and my faith is growing daily. I often wonder if my mother worried this much when I started driving!

Weekend

This weekend flew by. I found a great bargain in a changing table/cabinet for Mylee. I changed the hardware and made a slipcover for the mat.
Douglas, Myles and Blake spent Saturday evening in the woodshop. Blake made a birdfeeder and Myles made cutouts of hearts and butterflies. Breanna has been busy painting the cutouts to hang in the nursery.
Sunday after church, Breanna and I went to my mother-in-laws to make curtains for the nursery. She picked out a chestnut brown and a pink and white polka. They looked fabulous together. I will post some pictures soon.
All in all it was a great weekend, busy but fruitful.

Garage Sale Finds

Last Saturday, I decided to go garage-sale shopping while Blake was at football practice. The weather was a little chilly but I was hoping for some good finds anyway. And what a great day it turned out to be. I have been wanting dh to make a wall-mounted quilt rack for ages, and at my very first stop there it was. For only $4 no less.  The Indian Maiden quilt top was handmade by my granny years ago. The arrowhead quilt was made by my mother-in-law, for my dh who loves to collect arrowheads. Aren't they both gorgeous!

I love this Harold Laughlin platter. It is in the Virginia Rose scroll pattern. I have a "thing" for platters. I inherited that quirk from my mother, so when I came across this bargain I couldn't pass it up. They had two for 3 bucks. One for me and one for mom!

Now I know that the pattern is a snowflake, but really I don't care. I love a true red, and so these were just the update my kitchen needed. I think they are adorable. They were purchased with an old high back baby high-chair, but I couldn't get a good pic of it. However, the lovely lady I purchased it from said her children used it 30 years ago. So there is another project for dh as it didn't come with a tray. He is sure that he can build one though; me too.

16th Birthday Party

On Labor Day we celebrated Blake's 16th birthday! I can hardly believe he is that old, where did the time go? We rented an inflatable slip and slide and the kids had a blast. We also used my dad's tent (he does revivals and other ministries). It made for great shade and added a festive touch.

So anyway, life is getting ready to change drastically. It seems so different this time around with the driving situation. I was much more confident about letting Myles loose on the road than I am with Blake. It’s not that he’s a bad driver, I guess I’m just holding on…afraid to let go of that ‘little boy”. He will get his actual license next Wednesday, so I will have to be in much prayer between now and then.Other than that, our big news is that Myles and his girlfriend are soon to have a baby. Oh what joy, a grandbaby! We are soooo excited and can’t wait for the end of November to arrive. Watch the crafts lable for items I am making in preparation for our little princess.

New Beginnings

Welcome to Claiming Grace! I am so excited to be starting a new blog. This is something I have considered doing for a while now and I’m glad to finally get started.I hope you like the name I have chosen for my blog, Claiming Grace. This says everything about who I am. A (very) flawed person who has chosen to accept the Grace given by God through his son, Jesus. By His grace, I am able to live in liberty, to be who he created me to be.Fall is my very favorite season…crisp air, beautiful leaves, and definitely football. Yes, as a mom to two boys, I am a huge football fan. It seems we are always talking or watching football. I guess it goes back further than being a mom to athletes though. Some of my favorite memories revolve around watching the San Francisco 49ers with my dad. Go Joe Montana! Dad was a self-employed roofer and seldom worked less than six days a week. So Sundays were always special. Not only did we get to worship together, but we always watched the games. So, while some lament the loss of summer, I must admit. I am ready.